by Rowan Kavner
Former Cy Young Award winner David Price threw two innings in his simulated game Monday and will be ready to contribute if called upon on Opening Day. But it won’t be as a starter.
Manager Dave Roberts named Dustin May the Dodgers’ fifth starter on Monday, providing the answer to how the Dodgers will round out a rotation with more starting-caliber options than spots available. The 23-year-old right-hander will join Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urías in a deep Dodger rotation to start the year.
The decision means Price, Tony Gonsolin and Jimmy Nelson — all candidates to start games for the Dodgers — will begin the season in the bullpen, where they will serve as leverage relievers capable of pitching multiple innings at a time. Roberts said there were a number of variables that went into the decision.
“I just feel, we feel, good with David, Jimmy and Tony in the pen — getting left, getting right out, taking down two, three, four innings,” Roberts said. “Potentially at some point, I expect those guys to even finish a game if it makes sense. So, a lot of good thoughts, but balancing a very talented pitching staff, this was sort of the first hurdle, and I think we’re in a good spot.”
Entering the weekend, May, Gonsolin and Price were all candidates for the final spot in the rotation.
May said he was “game for whatever” the Dodgers decided with his role after his most recent spring start, when he struck out six batters and allowed one run in five innings on Thursday. But he hoped to earn a spot in the Dodger starting rotation, and he did after going 2–0 with a 2.63 ERA this spring.
Roberts said there will have to be some “pitching gymnastics” handling Price, Gonsolin and Nelson in the bullpen, keeping them stretched out while getting them into the right spots. But in a year in which teams are moving from a 60-game season to 162 games, the goal is for pitchers to stay as fresh, sharp and healthy as possible late in the year. Having three built-up, starting-caliber options coming out of the bullpen would ideally help in that regard.
“It’s a threading of a needle,” Roberts said. “I think they’re all Major League pitchers and Major League starters, for all intents and purposes, so to make sure these guys stay built up is important for not only them but for the ’21 Dodgers. But still appreciating game situation, hitting for a pitcher, there are going to be times where I expect David or Tony to still take an at-bat, to take down a couple more innings if the game makes sense for that situation. But yeah, having those guys stay built up and not being one-inning relievers is important.”
Beyond their striking Major League resumes, Price, Nelson and Gonsolin have all enjoyed standout Spring Trainings. Price, after opting out last season, has gone 1–0 with a 2.70 ERA in three spring appearances (one start). Nelson, after injuries limited him to 10 appearances the last three years, has allowed no earned runs in eight innings over five appearances (two starts). And Gonsolin has a 3.21 ERA with 18 strikeouts and three walks.
Price is a five-time All-Star who has pitched in 23 playoff games and won a World Series, but he has shared his willingness throughout the spring to help in any role if it means giving opportunities to deserving young pitchers.
“I want my teammates to know I want us to be the best version of the Dodgers that we can be,” Price said. “Whatever that entails me doing, I’m OK with that.”
For now, it means coming out of the bullpen, where he has a 0.98 ERA in 10 career regular season relief appearances.
“Having three guys in the pen that are Major League starters that can take down innings I think is very valuable,” Roberts said. “And I don’t think any team in baseball can say they have that.”
McKinstry makes the club
Utility player Zach McKinstry will make the Opening Day roster, Roberts announced Monday.
McKinstry, who made his Major League debut last season, will be the 13th and final position player on the 26-man roster. The left-handed hitter went 2-for-7 with a double last season after a standout 2019 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, when he hit .300/.366/.516 with 19 home runs.
The 25-year-old has logged time at every position other than first base, catcher and pitcher in the minors since the start of 2019. Roberts said McKinstry will likely see most of his time at second base, third base and the corner outfield spots this year.
“You look at our roster, a potential right-handed bench bat on paper might fit a little bit better, but I just think Zach’s versatility, his ability to take a good at-bat off the bench, on the bases, and still throughout his career handle left-handed pitching — he’ll get a start in Colorado somewhere — but just love him on the team,” Roberts said.
As for the rest of the Opening Day roster, Roberts said the club is still deciding on its last bullpen piece between Dennis Santana and Scott Alexander.
"to" - Google News
March 30, 2021 at 01:47PM
https://ift.tt/3ftEC4r
May to begin season as fifth starter, McKinstry to make the club - mlblogs.com
"to" - Google News
https://ift.tt/368wPko
https://ift.tt/3dnyzdH
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "May to begin season as fifth starter, McKinstry to make the club - mlblogs.com"
Post a Comment